Resuscitation
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Real-time measurement of end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) is used as a non-invasive estimate of cardiac output and perfusion during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). However, capnograms are often distorted by chest compressions (CCs) and this may affect ETCO2 measurement. The aim of the study was to quantify the effect of CC-artefact on the accuracy of ETCO2 measurements obtained during out-of-hospital manual CPR. ⋯ CC-artefact causes ETCO2 measurement errors in the two studied devices. This suggests that capnometer algorithms may need to be adapted to reliably perform in the presence of CC-artefact during CPR.
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Observational Study
An observational study of technical and non-technical skills in advanced life support in the clinical setting.
Technical skills (TS) and non-technical skills (NTS) are the primary elements ensuring patient safety during advanced life support (ALS) and effective crisis resource management (CRM). Both skills are needed to perform high-quality ALS, though they are traditionally practiced separately. The evidence of the association between NTS and TS in high-quality ALS performance is insufficient. Hence, we aimed to evaluate the association between the skills in real-life in-hospital ALS situations. ⋯ ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03017144.
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Observational Study
Capillary Refill Time as Part of an Early Warning Score for Rapid Response Team Activation is an Independent Predictor of Outcomes.
Capillary refill time (CRT) is easy, quick to perform and when prolonged in critical illness, correlates with progression of organ failure and mortality. It is utilized in our hospital's early warning score (EWS) as one of 11 parameters. We sought to define CRT's value in predicting patient outcomes, compared to the remaining EWS elements. ⋯ This is the first time CRT has been evaluated in RRT patients. Its measurement is easy to perform and proves useful as an assessment of adult patients at-risk for clinical decline. Its prolongation in our population was an independent predictor of mortality and the combined outcome. This study and others suggest that CRT should be considered further as a fundamental assessment of patients at-risk for clinical decline.
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Observational Study
Analysis of Visual Attention and Team Communications during Neonatal Endotracheal Intubations using Eye-tracking: An Observational Study.
Eye-tracking can be used to analyse visual attention (VA) of health care providers during clinical tasks. No study has examined eye-tracking during neonatal endotracheal intubation. We aimed to examine VA and team communications during endotracheal intubation using eye-tracking in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. ⋯ During neonatal intubations, 50% of VA was directed away from the infant. Team communications were non-standard. Eye-tracking can be used to analyse human performance during neonatal resuscitation.
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The ECG is a critical diagnostic tool for the management of immediate sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) survivors, but can be altered as a consequence of the SCA event. A limited number of studies report that electrical remodeling post SCA is due to prolonged myocardial repolarization, but a better understanding of this phenomenon is needed. ⋯ Contrary to expectations, electrical remodeling of the ECG due to SCA occurs due to prolongation of ventricular depolarization (QRSD), and not repolarization (JTc). Prolonged QRSD may also assist with prognostication and warrants further evaluation.